wood chips for temporary road

[horses2]

whats everyones opinion on using wood chips to put down as a temporary surface over a path thru a hayfield? it would be temporary as a realigned road will be built later on, but for the next year or so, i need to have this path usable, but dont want to put stone down as it will become part of the field after the new road is built.
I was thinking 3/4 inches of wood chips would give a good temporary surface that would just decompose after i am done,m and wouldnt hurt a discbine or mower.

FYI, I have PLENTY of chips from a clearing project.

Thanks,

 

[EddieWalker]

It really depends on what the soil is like and how wet will it get. My thinking is that you're wasting your time trying to use chips. They won't lock together or support a load like gravel will, and once they get wet, they will just become part of the mud. If the area is fairly solid and well drained, it might give some advantage, but I can't really see what that would be.

 

[SPYDERLK]

For this woodchips seem ideal. Ordinarily they gradually destabilize traversed ground by becoming imbedded by traffic, and then acting as a sponge while they decompose. Stay on high well drained ground and this could be perfect as you bring the area back to hay.

 

[CalG]

I'm not sure there is any benefit to a "wood chip road".
As mentioned, they don't interlock nor do they support any weight at all.
They do hold moisture that might firm up a sand lot until it did dry,
Chips would keep some of the dust down, and of course they look great to define the path.

I wouldn't use chips here in VT, but I would compost them and spread that on the temporary path when it is no longer needed. That would bring back good growth quickly.

 

[rgr33]

I have used wood chips to firm up a boggy path leading out to the fields. Prior to that, repeated trips through the area kept churning it up and making it worse. The chips did a reasonable job, stayed In place better than I thought, and cut the dust after the area dried out as the weather warmed. They were however, a temporary solution, as they eventually became pulverized by the tractor, and disappeared into the soil. If you have a good supply of chips, and the cost is nil, I wouldn't hesitate to use them, knowing you may have to add more now and then to maintain the surface. Unlike gravel, they will eventually disappear with no potential harm to your cutting equipment.

 

[arkydog]

wood chips will work. find out where they are clearing power lines and see about where they put the grindings

 

[Midniteoyl]

I hope you meant 3"-4" of wood chips and not 3/4" of an inch.. But ya, go ahead and use them.

 

[Qapla]

As long as your soil is not so wet that they rot too quickly or you have enough rain that they wash away, the ones from line clearing work just fine. We have used them for years.

 

[hslogger]

A wood chip road with those small chips isn't going to be much of a road. Pathway yes, roadway no.
A note to throw in to the discussion, horses2. dunno if you intend on grazing your horses in here temporarily, but I would point out to you and others, not all wood chips are livestock, horse, or cow friendly. There are numerous sources on the internet from horse owners and vets. Toxicity can be absorbed via browsing or standing on them.
Where I live, I will only use douglas fir, pine or cedar or alder chips. Black walnut, black locust, stone fruits, all are a no no.

 

[4570Man]

I made a temporary road out of chipper chips. It worked pretty good. I dump the leafed I rake off the yard in my trails. That works pretty good to keep the mud down. They neither one worked as good as gravel, but they were both free.

 

[CADplans]

Around here,, loggers that are chipping trees, and hauling logs, bed roads with chips all the time.
It must work,,, the logs keep coming out of the woods!!

 

[radioman]

i use wood chips on my trail -- and its all clay like . every fall and spring if i dont have a layer of wood chips down, then i cant drive on it, i end up making the path worse and then eventually getting stuck. I would have to wait till it freezes over then i can drive it again. . i even use my full sized cars on it no problems. the trick here is to get it laid down BEFORE it gets muddy. If you drive on it and it starts to squish around, the wood chips will take over a year to stablize as it will resquish around, no matter how you try to repack it. in 2-3 years it will be broken down enough you can plow it under. You need over 2-3 inches thick to make it effective to drive on. any thicker you will feel alot of rolling resistance, but its ok. I am speaking of over 10 years experience here and it works for me. i get the chips for free from the power line tree clearing and i always ask for it. they always gawk at me do i really want it that rough wood chips?! with a smile - why yes i do. its the perfect stuff for the trail to drive on, not the triple ground up stuff from landscaping places.

 

[GLyford]

Near me, local sawmills also have larger wood chips.

 

[Egon]

Lots of trails finished in chips. The chips are flat and layer well. Lots of use by forestry.

It'll work but as stated hopefully more than 3/4 inch.

 

[Thomas]

Years back I tried wood chip about 200' 6" + deep work well about 5years or so.
If hauling loaded trailer add lot more chips,don't get near edges.

 

[horses2]

thanks to all for the inout,
answering a few questions:

I would use the term road quite loosely. it would basically be a path thru a hayfield to get to an adjacent property i am clearing. once the clearing is done and the final road alignment is done, then a proper road would be built.
since it is a hayfield, there wouldnt be any livestock neart the chips (at least not on purpose anyway). I am not worried about the deer, they can take care of themmselves.
the "traffic" would be my tractor on weekends. maybe an ocassion pickup trip.

Thanks,